The Guilt, The Angst....... The Omnivores Dilemma.
Earlier this year I read “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” which I thoroughly enjoyed and finished feeling inspired to eat more sustainably and locally.
For Christmas I requested “The Omnivores Dilemma.” This is not a warm, fuzzy book. This is a depressing book. I don’t want to be a “Corn Person.” I don’t even ever want to eat fast food again. I feel sick just thinking about burgers and chicken from places like McDonald’s, Wendy’s and even gasp Culvers. I loves the Lemon Ice, but I’m sure it must be loaded with HFCS.
I’m sure this revival of interest in how and where we get our foods from is a good thing for us and bad for the Cargills, ADMs and Monsantos of the world. I feel fortunate to live in a city where we are treated with a bountiful Farmers Market several times a week in the spring, summer and autumn months.
I’m not even a 1/3 done with though, so we’ll how much more depressed I can be by the time I’m done.
Oh, you can get plenty more
Oh, you can get plenty more depressed yet.
The cattle bit is the worst, I think, so you’re through the most visceral part.
Doomed. We’re all going to be killed by corn.
Don't eat the corn!
I saw a special on MSNBC or something on corn. Corn syrup, corn filler, corn and more corn! It’s in almost everything!
I read labels like crazy, shop at Whole Foods when I can, and try to buy as many whole grain products as possible. Even the pre-packaged stuff is generally better for you if it’s organic and/or whole grain items.
HFCS
Just TRY to find a supermarket bread without HFCS (that doesn’t also taste like cardboard). I found one in Ohio. I believe it was some brand of 12-Grain bread. But here in Wisconsin, all they sell is the Texas-Style 12-Grain or something, and it’s got HFCS.
Grr. I think I’m going to bite the bullet and start making my own bread one of these days.
“Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” is making me crave gardening (as if I wasn’t already). I thank my parents for always at least growing tomatoes.
Bread Making
I bought some yeast and some whole wheat flour and tried to make a loaf of bread using my stand mixer’s bread dough hook.
My first loaf was not great. We only ate about half the bread, it just wasn’t tasty. I’ll have to keep trying, but it just seems so hard to make bread. (I know, I’m a wimp.)
I guess I’ll find a good recipe and make sure I have all the ingredients on hand and try it again.
Bread without HFCS
Lately I’ve been buying bread made by Stella’s Bakery (a Madison company), which Woodmans sells. It’s labeled “All Natural, No Preservatives” and best of all, the ingredients do not list high fructose corn syrup. I just looked them up and they’re located on Odana Road. I think I’ve seen them at the downtown Farmer’s Market too.
Stella's
Yep, they sell at both the Wednesday and Saturday farmers markets. They’re famous for their hot cheesey bread which is not “hot out of the oven,” but hot as in loaded with jalapeños. I don’t know if they’re at the indoor farmers market on Saturdays at the Monona terrace.
whoops...
Too bad I didn’t read about that before I went to Woodman’s today. We rarely go there (it’s a madhouse) but I went today and actually bought some bread, which I’m sure has HFCS in it.
I know of Stella’s – I’ll have to get some bread.
I want to try making English muffin bread. I’ll let you know if I’m successful.